How to send money to South Asia

We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias.
But we may receive compensation when you click links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners.

Sending an affordable money transfer to South Asia is easy — you just need to find the right company to handle the transaction.

Sending money to one of the countries in South Asia doesn’t have to be a complicated process, and it certainly doesn’t have to be expensive. When you need to send money to a recipient in India, Bangladesh or one of the other countries in South Asia, take the time to compare the fees and the exchange rate offered to you so you can make a solid decision that doesn’t break the bank.

Compare up to 4 providers

Banks vs. money transfer services

Banks may be your first thought when it comes to sending money transfers, but you may be left with high fees and subpar exchange rates on top of slower processing speeds. Instead, consider money transfer services. These often offer better exchange rates, lower fees and could have your transaction processed quickly so your recipient doesn’t have to wait a long time to get the cash they need.

Raghav Sends Money to India

Raghav is working in the banking industry in the United States and has plans to become a full-fledged American citizen. In the meantime, he’s working as hard as he can to save money not only for his own future but also to provide for his parents back home in Mumbai. Raghav wants to send $1,000 to his parents to provide financial support, but rather than accept the ordinary exchange rate offered by his bank, he compares two money transfer companies to see if they can offer him a better value for his money.

Money transfer company 1

Money transfer company 2

Exchange rate

1 USD = 72.45 INR

1 USD = 71.93 INR

Transfer fee

$5

$4

Transfer method

Bank account deposit

Bank account deposit

Processing time

3 to 4 business days

1 to 2 business days

Amount received

₹72,450

₹71,930

While the second transfer company has a slightly lower fee and a better processing time, Raghav is able to send ₹520 more to his parents. Because the speed of the transfer doesn’t matter, he chooses this option so his parents can get a little extra to cover their living expenses.

How do I send money to South Asia?

Compare your rates in the table above. Confirm that the provider offers funds in your specific currency by selecting the currency code in the drop-down menu.

Click Go to site to create an account. You’ll need to provide information about yourself and your recipient in order to start a transfer.

Select how much you want to send and in what currency, then pay for your transfer. Save your tracking number to check up on the progress of your transfer and make sure nothing goes wrong.

Foreign exchange rates explained

Exchange rate is used by banks and international companies to determine how much one currency is worth when converted to the currency of another country. A strong currency like the US dollar will yield more when exchanged for a weak currency like the Indian rupee. This amount is flexible and can become smaller or larger depending on market factors, so keep an eye on rates if you intend on sending money to South Asia frequently.

Emergency cash transfers in South Asia

When you need to send money to South Asia urgently, there are multiple companies that allow you to send instant transfers around the world. However, it’s worth noting that you’ll usually have to pay more for emergency transfers than you would for a regular transfer. Lower exchange rates and high fees should be expected with these types of transactions, so make sure you know exactly how much a transfer will cost before you part with your money.

Tips for picking up cash in South Asia

When your recipient picks up cash anywhere in South Asia, be sure to pass along these tips to help keep them safe from theft.

Only visit cash pickup locations in areas you know are safe.

Don’t pick up cash alone – take a friend along.

Keep your cash hidden and avoid taking it out in public.

Deposit your cash in a safe or bank account as soon as possible.

Bottom line

Sending money to one of the countries in South Asia doesn’t have to be a difficult or expensive process. In fact, you’ll likely be able to find a provider that offers good exchange rates and low fees when you’re looking to make a money transfer, especially if you’re using a highly-traded currency like the Indian rupee. And don’t hesitate to read up on money transfers so you know how to spot a good deal.

Cash pickup locations in South Asia — Western Union / MoneyGram / Ria

Western Union, MoneyGram, and Ria offer fast transfers and allow your recipient to collect the cash you send from pickup locations throughout South Asia. Just be sure to pass the transaction reference number on to your recipient and tell them to bring a photo ID when they go to collect the funds. Some popular cash pickup locations are listed below.

MoneyGramCanara Bank

Opp Fort Mkt

309 Shahid Bhagat Singh Rd Ballard Est

Mumbai, Maharashtra 400038

+91-22-22614735

Open 10am to 3:30pm Monday to Saturday

Canara Bank

August Kranti Marg Kemps Corner

Mumbai, Maharashtra 400036

+91-22-23889140

Open 10am to 3:30pm Monday to Saturday

PNB – Bombay Bazar

Bombay Bazar Meerut

Meerut, 250001

01212667432

Open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm Saturday

State Bank of Hyderabad

Kalina Kurla Road

Near Forbes Gokak Ltd

Mumbai, 400029

02226121124

Open 10:30am to 4pm Monday to Friday, 10:30am to 1pm Saturday

Abhyudaya Co-Operative Bank Ltd – Xpress Money

Madhuram Hall, Harishankar ,Joshi Road, Near DahiMumbai MH

Opening hours not currently available

Abhyudaya Co-Operative Bank Ltd – Xpress Money

Shraddha Shopping Centre, Old Nagardas Road, Andhe

Mumbai MH

Opening hours not currently available

MoneyGramAl Arafah Islami Bank Limited

New Elephant Road Branch

91 New Elephant Road

Dhaka, Dhaka 1219

+880-29665323

Open 9am to 5pm Saturday to Thursday

Al Arafah Islami Bank Limited

Nawabpur Road Branch

85 87 Nawabpur Road

Dhaka, Dhaka 1400

+880-27110708

Open 9am to 5pm Saturday to Thursday

JBL

Dhaka Medical College Hospital

Shantinagar Tso, 1217

28626851

Open 10am to 6pm Sunday to Thursday

Southeast Bank Limited

Adrienne Fuller is the head of publishing at Finder. With a decade of experience creating guides in finance and education, she aims to deliver the accurate and transparent information she wishes she had when she made some of life's important financial decisions. For the past 3 years she has been the publisher of money transfers, helping readers save when they send money all over the globe. She has a BA from Colorado College and loves to hike with her two Catahoula dogs around her home in San Diego.

Questions and responses on finder.com are not provided, paid for or otherwise endorsed by any bank or brand. These banks and brands are not responsible for ensuring that comments are answered or accurate.

We endeavor to ensure that the information on this site is current and accurate
but you should confirm any information with the product or service provider and
read the information they can provide. If you are unsure you should get independent
advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan.

finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that
aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we
are independent, we may receive compensation from our partners for featured placement
of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on
certain links posted on our site.

Thank you for your feedback.

Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.

Advertiser Disclosure

finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which finder.com receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. finder.com compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.